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AN 



OltATION, 

DELIVERED BEFORE THE 

WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY 



POULTNEY, 

o» thz 4th OF JULY, 1814. 

BY ZEBULON R. SHIPHERD, Esq, 



WITH AN 

ADDRESS, 

UPON READING THE 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



BY CHAUNCEY LANGUON, A. M. 



MIDDLEBURY : 

PRINTED BY TIMOTHY C. STRONG. 

■ 

"liiT 



Poaltney, July iltli, ^814. 
Hon. ^EiiuON R. Shtpherd, ?c 

CHADNCEY LiKCDON, Esq. 

Gentlemen, 

The Committee of Arrangements, pursuant to the re 
quest of the audience in general, return you their most cordial thanks 
for your excellent anniversary oration, and address, pronounced at Poult- 
ney the 4th instant ; and request a copy for publication. 

"1 



„ „ C JAMES S HARRIS, 
Poultnej J STEPH ^r W „ • NA> 

C ELISHA PARKILL,, [Select 

±airliaven £ TILLY GILBERT, {Committee. 

. ,. C*KLUI G RIDLEY, I 

Caatleton£ ENOS MBWU* J 

Gentlemen, 

The approbation of the respectable and discerning part of 
community, is a rich reward for exertion. I therefore assure you, 1 feel 
amply compensated for my labours with the commendation of an audi- 
ence, whose praise any man might be proud to win- 

I have only to regret, that the production which, to obey your wishes, 
1 consent should be made public, was not more deserving of the flattering 
epilliets you have been pleased to bestow upon it. 
I am Gentlemen, 
with every feeling of respect, 
your most ob't humble Servant, 

Z. R. SHIPIIERD. 
Messrs. Harris, Dana, 

Pakkill, Gilbert, 
Griojlsy & Merill, 

Gentlemen, 

The consent of my Honorable Friend, Mr. Shipherd*, to pub- 
lish his oration h*s induced me to comply with your request, and submit 
the whole of the remarks written, as well those, which w re delivered, 
as those were intended to have been made, and were omitted, on account 
of length, to your disposal. Those parts of the address, contained with- 
in the brackets, were omitted on delivery, and are now given to the pub- 
lic, 

By their Humble Servant, 
CHAUNCEY LANGUOR. 






AN ADDRESS 



When the son of God came down to deliver us from the 
slavery of sin and death, the era was announced by an Angel with 
a multitude of the heavenly hofit, proclaiming, " Glory to God 
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men I" 

A star appeared in the east, as the Herald of the day of Di- 
vine light dawning upon the world, " which had lain in dark- 
ness and the shadow of death" 

The wise men of the eat saw the light :— and as representa- 
tives of the heathen world, Game from a far country to offer 
gifts and honors to the Son of God dwelling in flesh. These il- 
lustrious men commemorated the glorious event ; and bore tes- 
timony against every nation which regards not the blessing. 

Nature, men and Angels concur in the propriety of celebra- 
ting the day, which gave moral freedom to man. 

The chosen people of God commemorated the day of their 
deliverance from the house of bondage. They keep the feast 
of the passover " as an ordinance forever ;" by eating a 
lamb without blemish, with their loins girded, shoes on their, 
feet and staves in their hands. 

All nations celebrate the era of important events, which have 
procured to them the blessings of peace, liberty and Indepen- 
dence. 

Shall Americans foi get the day of their birth and youthful 
prosperity and Independence ? — God forbid — But let the days 
which are past correct the present and guard the future. 

Nations, like men, have their birth, youth, manhood, decrepi- 
tude of years, diseases and dissolution. As virtue, temperance 



4 

and industry invigorate and perfect the body and mind of man ; so 
the practice of these will preserve and perfect the body poli- 
tic. 

Men, and nations, enjoying peace and prosperity, with great 
propriety, rejoice together on the annual return of the day of 
their birth. But when disordered by vice ; enervated by prof- 
ligacy and corruption ; swayed from truth and justice by inor- 
dinate love or hatred ; oppressed by their rulers, or a dominant 
party, well may they say — Let the day perish wherein they were 
born ! 

The came* and events which gave birth to this day ; and 
separated us from our mother country are enumerated in the 
declaration of Independence, which, at your request, I am 
about to read. It is the charter of our national sovereignty ; 
and the declaration of our rights. It was sealed by the blood 
and treasures of thousands : — and maintained by the united cares 
and toils of the Heron you, this day, display on the banners of 
your love, union and gratitude. Their memory you still cher- 
ish and delight to honor. — And, thanks to God ! that the Father 
of his country still lives in the hearts of so many of his children! 
That our children's children know his worth, and/ar/the majes- 
ty of his virtues. That they glory in rallying around his stan- 
dard ; — for it is the standard of truth, virtue and patriotism. — • 
It is the standard of defensive war alone ; — and it carries on 
its folds, Justice to all nations ; — Alliance ivilh none ! — It has borne 
the test of time ; — Survived the scoff of Demagogues, — and the 
rancorous tooth of party emulation ! 

My friends, the friends of Washington, hear the evils we once 
endured: — and while I read, reflect and consider if many of 
them do not now exist among us. 



By this declaration, recorded on the hearts of the American 
pecple, you see that the mother once forgot her offspring !— 
Yo'4 see that the strides of power crossed the Atlantic to tram» 



pie on our liberties ; --to subjugate freemen and chain their peace, 
prosperity and future destinies to the throne of power ! 

Free and independent men disdain the laws of usurpation ;— 
but adore the laws of nature and of nature's God ! Our fath- 
ers saw andy>// the danger : — And liberty steeled every breast; 
nerved every arm ; and kindled her holy fires on the altars of 
freedom ! — They looked up to the great Disposer of events, the 
God of truth and justice, toprotect and vindicate their cause.—- 
The God of truth and justice then lived ! — And He lives forev- 
er. Tho' " He make darkness his secret place, and thick clouds 
of the sky his pavilion ; yet righteousness and judgment are the 
habitation of hit throne" 

f Our State and federal constitutions were wisely formed to 
preserve our peace aud Independence. These were not contam- 
inated with the profligacy and corruptions of European govern* 
meats ; nor the administration of them committed to the dregs 
of foreign nations. The people were united, virtuous and hap- 
py. Under the just and impartial administration of Washing- 
ton we enjoyed freedom, peace and unparalleled prosperity. Our 
commerce was extended to almost every part of the globe It 
enriched the farmer, mechanic and merchant ; ard filled the 
public treasury without bui thening the people. Measures were 
taken to defend that commerce en the ocean, whenever aggres- 
sions should be made. In ninety eight and nine, the effect of 
these measures was gloriously applied. The thunders of our 
infant navy boldly proclaimed to the marauding powers of Eu- 
rope the extent of our commercial rights, and successfully de- 
fended them. These measures were unequivocally condemned 
by the party now in power and, with other things, caused a 
complete change'in the administration of cur government.] 

To preserve national liberty and Independence, the immortal 
Washington adopted ard pursued a wise, just and impartial ad- 
ministration of our government- In spite of ourselves, and a 
hord of Jacobinic Frenchmen then among us, that great and 
good manj by his proclamation of neutrality, saved us from the 



6 

giddy vortex of atheistic philosophy, frantic revolutions, vision- 
ary systems and the bloody and exterminating wars of Europe. 
Haopy, thrice happy it would have been for these United States, 
if the late administrations had not forsaken that wise, just, im- 
partial and independent course. 

It, therefore, becomes the descendants of our fathers, the dis- 
ciples of Washington ;-— and it is our indispensable duty as freemen, 
to watch and guard the vineyard of our Jreedom and Independence, 
that exotic plants of a strange vine be not implanted in its soil. 
Their growth will destroy the native vines ; and finally produce 
the grapes of Sodom and the clusters of Gomorrah ! 

Freedom and Independence, without virtue, wisdom and im- 
partiality in the rulers and in the people, are like a ship on the 
ocean without helm, chart or compass. When natural, or po- 
litical storms and tempests arise, they will alike become the 
sport of chance. 

No nation can be long free and independent, when her coun- 
cils are swayed by foreign influence, or by a dominant party in 
her bosom :— or diveited from her true interests by love or ha- 
tred ; — by prejudice, fear or partiality to others. All her meas- 
ures ought to be cievi ed from pure motives, and directed by a 
just and impartial hand. When she departs from these princi- 
ples, she becomes the tool of others ; — -the pity and contempt of 
the world ! A nation oftener loses her freedom and Indepen- 
dence from an inordinate love or attachment to one belligerent 
power, or from hatred and prejudice to the other, than by for- 
eign conquest. Whenever a nation from these servile passions, 
wages an offensive war against one of two beligerent powers, it 
is a virtual alliance with the other: — This is relatively unju.t.— 
It is sacrificing her sons and daughters to Moloch. 

The fate of the nation^ of Continental Europe ought to have 
been, to us, a warning voice as from the tomb of Liberty ; — and 
the grave stones of their departed governments ought to have 
been instructive and effectual monitors to have shewed us our 
danger. These, as in the language of eternal truth, have pro- 



claimed to the whole wold, that freedom and Independence had 
no place there ! 

([The military despot of France, established the most stupen- 
dous and degrading system of tyranny the world ever saw.— 
He stood, like the Colossus of Rhodes, and nation after nation 
were made to pass between his feet. Italy, Genoa, Holland* 
Switzerland, and a part of Germany were held in chains as an 
integral part of his usurped empire. Germany, Austiia, Sardin- 
ia, Naples, Prussia, Sweden, Denmark, and other smaller tates 
became prostrate at the feet of his power. By unparalleled 
perfidy and deception he seized the King of Spain and placed 
his servile brother on the throne. That ill-fated kingdom, and 
Portugal, were deluged with blood, while they struggled for 
their national existence and Independence. The wheels of his 
chariot rolled over the necks of powerful nations, when boasting 
of freedom and Independence; and their tracks were rilled with 
the blood of innocence. Peace and prosperity fled before ; des- 
olation and misery followed after him. He stood and as with a 
pen of iron, blotted out the nations of Europe from the map of 
the world. Even the heroic Emperor of all the Russia* trem- 
bled at his nod, and moved in the sphere of his baneful influence. 
The fa:t anchored Isle alone remained free from his grasp and 
the controul of his power. Despairing of the conquest of Eng- 
land by physical force, or by deception, he artfully introduced 
his continental system of commercial restrictions, under pretence 
of securing and defending the rights oi'the ocean and freed m of the 
seas- All trade in British manufactures were prohibited ; and 
their goods became fuel for the fire.* As fagots of wood have 
been used to prevent reformation in Christianity and the gospel 
of peace, so millions in value, of British merchandize, have been 
consumed by fire, or confiscated to excite prejudice and hatred 
ngain't the British nation and her manufactures. The Berlin, 
Milan and Rambouillet decrees were component parts of the 
same system, 2 ad became the fundamental laws of his empire. 

He justly considered the commerce and manufactories of 



9 

Great Biiuin to be the wealth and life of the nat'.on : — and 
when these was once destroyed, she would become an easy con- 
quest. 

Blinded by hatred and prejudice, and allured by the Syrert 
song; of the Napolean system of commercial restrictions, the na* 
tions of Europe glided down the stream of deception into the 
gulph of destruction. 

The administration of our government have unfortunately 
steered the same course, for eight years past. The non- impor- 
tation, embargo, non intercourse acts and commercial restric- 
tions have encompassed us by sea and by land. These, like the 
locusts of Egypt, have destroyed all our regular commerce and 
external revenue, without producing one solitary benefit. 

The tyrant of France saw the course we had taken with exul- 
tation ; — and congratulated his Senate upon our renouncing 
commerce. Beholding our political ship heavy laden, by our- 
selves, with a cargo of these commercial restrictions, he loved us ; 
and generously gave us a station with his allies, to defend free 
trade and sailors' rights on the ocean ! Finding our political 
ship and cargo endangered by trade-winds and tempe:is, we begant 
in June, 1812, to defend free trade and sailors' rights on the 
ocean, by an offensive war on the savages of the wilderness, and 
on the wilds of Canada. 

This war has been vigorously pursued by an army of fifty jivt 
thousand men, on paper, with a full complement of officers in actual 
commission and full pay. These men, well guarded by militia, 
are enjoying leisure with modern dig ity : — and impiously com- 
pare their services with those* which were rendered on the day 
we now celebrate, under the banner of love to our Country ! 

When and where this wild career will end, Cod only knows ! 
— But one thing we now know — that we are no longer in dan- 
ger of being chained to the charriot of Napoleon ; nor ingulphed 
in the bottomless pit of his love and friendship /] 

In commemorating the day of our freedom and Independence, 
to be unmindful of the recent events in Europe would be in- 



gratitude to heaven : — excuse, therefore my intrusion otl your 
patience ; for the passing events of the day are replete with 
instruction. 

The only nation on the continent of Europe, which saw and 
felt the danger of the continental system of the tyrant of France, 
and dared resist his will, became an Aceldama in the defence of 
national sovereignty and Independence. 

The sword of Alexander could rest in its scabboard no long- 
er. The cause of truth and justice, and the freedom of na- 
tions drew it forth and ensured victory. Tne Russian nation 
rallied her heroes and veterans to defend the dignity and Inde- 
pendence of the Empire. They surrounded the imperial stan- 
dard ; union and virtue fortified every breast, andyWiV* strength- 
ened every arm. 

Infatuated by success and goaded on by ambition, the scourge 
of nations carried an immense army to the Russian frontiers. — 
He saw, in his imagination, the fate of all the Russias as seal- 
ed : — and was ready to snatch from Deity , 

" The balance and the rod, 

"Rejudge his justice and be god of God!" 

The conflict was tremendous ! — The carnage dreadful! — 
The fields of Russia were drenched with the blood of heroes- — 
and enriched with the slain. Her rivers were filled with the im- 
plements of war and the mangled corpses of the survivors of the 
battles of Lodi, Merango. Austerlits, Jena, Eylau, Wagram, 
Smolensk, and Boradino ! The ancient and splendid capital of 
the Empire fell into the hands of the relentless tyrant! — And 
in a few hours was enveloped in flames ! — But the flames of 
Moscow flashed conviction to the powers of Europe, opened 
their eyes, and aroused them from their almost fatal lethargy. — ■ 
They shewed Napoleon the limits of his power and oppression, 
and melted the chains he had prepared for the world ! Here 
he fell from the pinacle of. his high blown pri.de and ambition;-^- 
and was taught that 

t 



io 

" Wiicn our deep laid plots do fail, that It should teach ua, 
" i litre is a divinity, that shapes our eiais, 
" Rough hew them how we will." 

Alexander viewed the conflagrated ruins of the lofty towers 
and bati)err.em3 cF the Kremlin unmoved. 

"Unspeakably serene. 

*' Tkisconscious soul smiled o'er the dreadful scene" 

[The venerable' Kuttuoff, surrounded by his generals, felt the 
vigeur of yomh return ! His brave heart beat in unison with 
those of his soldiers—and the pious emotions of his breast ele- 
vated him to heaven ! — " Fear not, siys he, for heave^ will 
Unite with man again. t the tyrannic trouble* - of the world. God, 
whose altars have been insulted by the very iverm He had raised 
from the dust, will stretch forth his shield over your ranks* ; and 
with the sword of Michael fight against his enemies. This is 
the faith, says he, in which I will fight and conquer/ This is 
the faith in which 1 would fi^ht and fail ; — and scill behold the 
the final victory with my dying eyes \" 

Retributive justice will never let the guilty go unpunished ! — 
Nor did the God of unr ersal nature He inspired the troops 
with courage and aid;*'! them by the storms of Heaven- The 
tide of victory soon rolled back upon the merciless invaders and 
tHey fled from the ruins of Moscow with dismay ! — Near half a 
million perished by famine, or the sword ;^-and the frozen re. 
gior.s of the north refused them burial ! 

Defeat stripped the name of Napoleon of its terrors — and 4 
tills impious leader fled, like a wretched fugitive, back to bis 
capital ! 

Too' the modern Attila of France has been permitted to 
scourge the nations of Europe for their degeneracy and corrup- 
tion ; vet the iingei of God has pointed out to them the victo* 
rious Alexander a? their deliverer : — And the ashes of Moscow 
will proclaim to distant ages the heroic virtues which baffled the 
destroyer of nations ; — and show to the world that no sacrifice 
is too great for Independence and the right of Self Government ! 



n 

The recital of campaigns and battles produces pain to the hu- 
man mind : — " For wars originate in the ambition of princes ! 
and terminate in the misery of nations." But the late example 
of a people, under an absolute monarchy, preferring death to for- 
eign slavery ; — and the bsnevolence of their conduct, is too sub- 
lime and instructive to be passed over in silence. 

A man is truly great, when he attains the summit of power j 
and then respects the laws and the rights of others ; — decerns 
merit, receives council, forgives enemies and acquires friends. 

Napoleon never hid this greatness. Intoxicated with the love 
of power, the sovereignty of France was too insignificant for his 
ambition- He attempted to raise France above herself, to make 
hei worthy of his notice- His disordered imagination traced out 
immortal glory in war, and the destruction of the human race. 
He reached after the crowns of Europe and universal power ia 
anticipated conquests. These have proved his ruin ; — and the 
consequent restoration of liberty and peace to France ; and In- 
dependence to the nations of Europe, which he had conquered. 
He never learned the lesson of the Priest of Ceies ; " That war 
could not begin too late, nor terminate too speedily." He ever 
thought more of spilling the blood of his enemies, than saving 
the lives of men. He therefore levied another immense army 
from his slavish allies, and the conscripts of France. " These 
conscripts were too young to bear the arms by which they per- 
ished." 

The sagacious and intrepid Alexander lost no time in carry- 
ing his victories into the heart of Germany. Nation after na- 
tion became a willing conquest, and received Independence and 
the restoration of theii former governments from his hands. He 
acquired, every day, additional strength in his triumphant course 
of emancipating Europe. New alliances were formed in the 
glorious cause. At length the contending armie-, of near half 
a million of veteran troops, met at Leipsic from different points. 
The fate of Europe and the world hung suspended on the event 
of the day ! The carnage was beyond description ! — And tha 



m 

tremendous roar of cannon, and the noise of battle was like "the 
wreck of matter and the crush of worlds !" 

Under the wails of Leipsic the adamantine chains of the con- 
federacy of the Rhine were severed from the nations of Europe : 
and the b.Ad and stupendous system of commercial restrictions 
vanished away "as the baseless fabric of a vision." 

The legions of France, once deemed invincible, were panic* 
struck and fled with precipitation ! while the astonished multitude 
beheld, with admiration, three mighty monarchs on their knees 
in humble and pious adoration giving thanks to Almighty God 
for their wonderful deliverance ! 

Now, instead of seeing Frenchmen and the Rhinish confedera- 
cy rioting in blood and the spoils of Russia ; — we saw the Rus- 
sians and their magnanimous allies in France restoring Peace and 
Freedom to the people ! Instead of the haughty Corsican at 
St. Petersburg}) exulting in slaughter and conflagration ; the 
imperial Alexander is at Paris receiving the grateful adoration 
of the French people — and consoling them with the reflection, 
*' that the old men may now hope to die before their children !" 
In:-tead of being surrounded as a prisoner in his own capital, the 
people of Paris press forward to touch the proud steed on which 
he rode ; — crying out, " long live Alexander, our Deliverer !" 

Instead of sitting on the throne of Europe, or wielding the 
sceptre of universal empire, the military Despot is now dethron- 
ed by his own senate ; — and sent a miserable and pitiless exile 
to the little isle of Elba ; — there to reflect on the perfidy and 
murders he hai committed, and the innocent blood he has shed ! 
He once sat, like Mars, in the car of victory smiling at destruc- 
tion in the field of battle — directing the tempest of death through 
Europe — H beholding kings casting their crowns at his feet !"— 
he is now obliged to wear the badge of a white cockade, which 
belonged to the royal family, some of whom he had murdered, 
to protect his life among his former slaves ! — When he heard 
and saw his fate, the tyrant wept ! — Yes my friends, he, who 
changed the youth to slaughter ; and saw the tears of childless 



13 

parents and bereaved widows gush from their eyes unmoved ", 
and hath filled the world with misery, lamentations and mourn- 
ing, without remorse ; — and who impiously proclaimed to the 
Spaniards, " That God had givea him power and he would use 
it, " is now hurled from his throne and is receiving the bread of 
charity from ^he hands of tho?e he once enslaved, weeping like 
a child at his fate ! — But his tears are not the tears of contrition, 
but of disappointed ambition. How great the change ? — Aston- 
ishing reverse of fortune ! — From the fate of this man let the ru- 
lers of the earth know that the stamp of change is placed on all 
things below the sun ; and thereby learn to be wire in time. 
Let them know " That God is ju-t ! and that our pleasant vi- 
ces, often make instruments to scourge us." That Hi* king, 
dom is over all ; — and " that He will dash the tyrants of the 
earth to pieces like a potter's vessel." 

When we behold the astonishing events which have taken 
place in Europe, within two years past, we have reason to con- 
gratulate the former friends and patrons of our Independence, 
that the nations of the continent are restored to freedom and 
the rights of self government ; — and are now enjoying the bless- 
ings of peace. With them, we rejoice that the fatal spell of Na- 
polean policy is completely dissolved ; — and that the Gordian 
knot which had entangled our commerce and foreign relations 
was loosened by the flames of Moscow, and finally destroyed un- 
der the walls of Leipsic. What effect the fall of the tyrant of 
France will have on our foreign rights and commere, or present 
state of things, remains a doubt : — But if we had cultivated the 
friendship, instead of irritating the passions of our declared ene- 
my ; or if we had virtue and wisdom enough to have remained 
neuter and free from the broils and restrictive systems of Eu- 
rope ; and treated every nation with strict impartiality, and de- 
fended with equal forbearance, the unnecessary aggression oa 
our national rights, we might have now joined in the general 
joy without alloy. 
Though the calamities of war afflict our land, and the bless. 



14 

ingi of an honorable peace be not within our power, yet we 
OJght to rejoice that so great a part of Europe is freed from its 
accumulated eviis. Should the recent events in Europe facili- 
tate and hasten the establi-hment of a peace in America) we 
should have new cau e and m ire occasion of joy and congratu- 
lation But if the ravages of war must still continue to punish 
Us for our ra.-hness and lolly, and for the abuse of our national 
advantages, we mu«t preserve the union, defend our rights, obey 
th? law, perform the several duties we owe to our.elve- and to 
our God ; — and wait with patience until the people learn wisdom 
by suffering and learn to justly estimate the blessings of peace and 
Inlfpvndeme. We must leave our bleeding c< untry and its im- 
P'u taut c ncerns with the great Disposer of events ;— ' and rejoice 
that the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth :" — " and that His tender 
mercies ate over all the woik* of His hands ." 



AN OHA nr 

Felhto Cit'izent, 

A ha-ty and defective address, frr the present important 
celebration, has been the result of necessity ; and not oi indiffer- 
ence to your good opinion. 

Happy th uld I have been if the calls of an arduous profession 
had afforded me lehur? to gratify your wishes, and, if possible, 
deserved your approbation : Bnc those calls, together with in- 
disposition, have driven me to a very limited opportunity of 
preperation ; and compels me to solicit a correct judgment up- 
on my peiformance. Notwithstanding these embarrassments, 
while encouraged on my right hand by manly dignity and 
candour, and on my left hand by the charm of beauty, I shall 
not despond. 

No ordinary state of the political world, invites the attentiori 
Of the reflecting mind. — A new and distinguished epoch presents 
itself to the historic pen, and excites wonder and admiration. 

The curtain has been drawn up, and io ! — there burst upon 
our sight a scene, that fills the mind with astonishment : As 
though heaven had reserved to the thirteenth and fourteenth 
year of the present century the exhibition of His master works* 
—For, after all the convulsions, and struggles of the civilised 
world, portending dubious results, at length we seeoneoftht* 
greatest and subiimest dramas ever witnessed by man. 

All former experience has been beggared ; all calculation! 
mocked and confounded. 

The proud oppres:or has been beaten down ; his throne which' 



16' 

Seehied to defy all power, celestial and terrestial, has been pros* 
trated in so rapid and unexpected a manner, that, the story 
seems more like the delu-ion of romance, than seriou- reality. 

If the birth day of our Independence has become common, 
and the ardour of the Patriot somewhat cooled, by the repetition 
of its celebration, — yet the recent events in Europe mu=t banish 
from our hearts, every lazy feeling, and produce new and active 
sensations. 

It is presumed that the spirit of liberty, benumbed and ren- 
dered torpid amidst the collision of party contention, will be re- 
generated : Will again be clad in the native vestments of Inde* 
pendence, awaken her sons, and command a renewed devotion 
to the cause of man, to swell in their hearts. The views and 
feelings, which heretofore were bounded by the shores of our 
continent, will now bound over the the Atlantic and encircle 

Europe in the embrace. Europe did I say ? — The world ! 

Man, whether he is schorched with a tropical sun, pursues his 
game over the polar mountains of ice ; or breathes the soft Au- 
sonian Zephyr, is interested — deeply interested in the great events, 
which we design to mingle in this celebration. Let us, my 
friends, congratulate ourselves and mankind, and unitedly hail 
this dawn, as the precursor of a day glorious for its peace and 
happiness, — a day to be welcomed with tears of joy. At such a 
prospect, the good heart will throb with delight ; bravery itself 
take off his coat of mail, and mellow down the rugged brow of 
war. 

Europe is again free !— Her chains have been solved with the 
warm blood of her sons ; and she rises from the depth of oppres- 
sion, glowing with a new and dazzling lustre. The sword of the 
North, aided by its allies, has foiled the u-urpir.g Tyrant of 
France, smitten off the claws, and broken the teeth of the terrif- 
ic monster. He has been hunted down, caught, chained, des- 
poiled of his ill-gotten power, and driven to his cage and remain? 
but a melancholy example of a wretch, who dared the justice 
of Omnipotence, and well may say to all who hereafter attempt 



17 

the mad oareer of unholy ambition — " Ditcete Justkiath moniti 
tton temnere dhos." 

Is there a benevolent being, that does not rejoice at the de- 
struction of that dreadful system of Tyranny, which but lately 
menaced the ruin of the world ; — which was ' extending its dire 
dominion through all Christendom, and, in its progress, laid 
waste every germ of rational liberty ; and erased from the earth 
the footsteps of piety and even common morality ? Nations 
shrunk at the blighting approach of its author. He withered and 
blasted, " like the pestilence that walketh in darkness," Even 
the arm of defensive war was paralized at his touch. Like a 
demon of darkness, he smiled at woe ; the groan of anguish was 
recreating to his ear, and with the ruthless exultation of a fiend s 
rejoiced over the catacombs of death. 

If this audience contains a man, that does not rejoice, at the 
dovvnfal of the monster of iniquity, I cannot fail to offend him 5 
for 1 am constrained to pronounce the heart that mourns his fall 
an enemy of human happiness ; and fitted for the hatching of 
the vilest crimes. If such a being exist some strange mania 
must reign over his mind and pervert his better judgment. 

It swells the generous breast with delight, that Holland once 
more has raised her beloved Orange, — once more realizes the 
blessings that weie ravished from her, by the revolutionizing 
hand of France. 

After twenty years of slavery cruel and intolerable, the honest 
Dutchman smokes his pipe in peace, once more floats at his ease 
on his native canal ; and with a conscious feeling, that he is free 
breathes cut a thank-offering to that Good Being, who has 
emancipated his country from the chains of tyranny :— 

That Prussia can boast of the valiant deeds of her Frederick 
without a blush : 

That Austria, indignant at the contumelious tone of the hus- 
band of her idol, and disdaining to stop at the ties which were 
formed not of affection but ambition, (unholy ties that ought 
ever to be blasted ;)joined in the cause of Europe 11 , and strove, 

C 



is 

in magnanimous contest, " to pluck up her drowned honour by 

the locks ;"— 

That the long oppresssd Swiss again, free as air, can bound 
on the snowy steeps and court the genius of liberty alternately on 
the top of the glaciers, or in the luxuriant vale. • Brave descen- 
dant of Tell !— Long, too long ha c t thou groaned under the 
weighty burthens imposed by the intolerent hand of power 
which like a mighty avalanche pressed thee down ! — Mty thy fu- 
ture destines be gilded with uri'arnished lustre, and thou enjoy 
a freedom as unsulied, as thy native mountaii s ! 

It is enlivening to the mind, that contemplates great events 
with admiration, to run over the grand movements of the Rus- 
sian army, from the flames of Moscow, chasing and hunting the 
tyrant, and, every step, teaching, by adverse experience, that the 
day of retribution had arrived ; and the movements of the allied 
army, carrying victory from Liepsick to Paris I mean nct» 
that the sufferings and deaths of the French soldiers ought, ab- 
stractly considered, to afford pleasure. No ; if this stood alone, 
it demands compassion for their pangs. The story of their 
wrongs, their sufferings and misfortunes will wring the feeling 
heart, and prompt a wish, that this weighty mass of pain and 
death could have been saved. Benevolence fain would have 
cheered the fainting sufferer with food, and fire,— spread a shield 
before his breast, in the heat of battle, — warmed his stiffened 
limbs, or closed his dying eyes. But an unrelenting necessity 
prohibited tne generous deed ; and kind charity in this, as in a?! 
such cases, was constrained to avert her head, and drop the pity- 
ing tear. Viewing however the glorious consequences of these 
dreadful calamities, it is virtuous to feel rejoiced ; and when out 
of the ashes of the dead and the pro»d throne of Napoleon lev- 
eled in dust, we see freedom with renewed beauty arise to bless 
the world, our lamentations over the tomb of slaughtered mill- 
ions is merged in the great and happy result. And the more is 
that result pleasing, as we have much reason to believe the bless, 
ings purchased, at so great a price, will be lasting. The foun- 
tain of corruption is broken up ; — the Tyrant is fallen ;— -and, 



19 

Hke the rebel angel, to ri?e no more. France the former 
source of abominations, is regenerated, and gives an earnest of 
future goodness. 

What wonders and revolutions two years have produced ! Stu« 
pid must be the mind that sleeps regardless of these great events. 
They not only call for our praise, our warm and great ful com- 
mendations to those, who have stepped forth the friends of man 
but our still higher and devout gratitude to the God of battles, 
for his beneficent aid in accomplishing the mighty work. Let 
us remember, that the plans of an Alexander, or of the united 
wisdom of hisallies, executed by a master's hand, would have pro- 
ved abortive, without the aid and appr-bation of the Ruler of our 
destinies. In vain the hoary KmusofF, invested in the mantle of 
Suwarrow, — the noble S.vede. the intrepid Blucher, would have 
urged on the destructive engines of war ! In vain would the 
Washington of Europe, whose steady skill has delivered Spain 
and Portugal from the tallons of the Gallic Harpey, have bent 
his conquering sword in the glorious cause, had not Heaven 
commanded " go ye up to battle." Feeble would have been every 
effort ; and still the unvanquished dictator would have widowed 
France, and made nations tremble at his rod. — Hence we may 
learn " the race is not to the swift, or battle to the strong." — 
An unseen, although almighty hand has guided the movements 
of these great machines. He marked the bounds, beyond 
which the Tyrant could not pass, and has checked and punished 
him for his guilty temerity, in the impious attempt. 

It was the spirit of Omnipotance that enkindled a valiant en- 
thusiasm in the fur dad bosom of the Russian, and prompted him 
to go forth to battle and victory. 

It is pleasing to the pious scul to believe, that nothing happens 
fortuitously ; that his God appoints and will execute all his de- 
signs. With feelings thus tempered, while he wonders at the 
mighty operations and mutations of states and kingdoms, he 
bows and adores ; rejoices that " his Father is at the helm ;" and 



20 

while the tempest howls and the billows dash, fears not but the 
happy destined port will be safely gained. 

A controlling Providence is most obvious in the wonderfu' 
changes in Europe, The Infidel alone can doubt, or refuse to 
see it. Those great deeds are stamped as peculiarly belonging 
to a supreme hand, and demand of us, while we bestow the mer- 
ited commendation upon the brave, to ascribe the glory to a 
greater and better Being, and to acknowledge, with pious grat- 
itude His goodness, in rescuing the world from slavery and the 
christian world from the hands of the Atheist. 

From recent, it may be propei to leok back to more distant, 
things, — things which many of us have witnessed. The revolu- 
tion of our states, the abjuration of the British government, and 
forming our own seemed to commence that most extraordinary 
chain of events, which less than forty years have produced — 
The world looked on with surprise to behold an empire emerg- 
ing from obscurity, and, with a rapid facility, that knew no par- 
allel, take an high and honourable stand among the nations of 
the earth. 

Scarcely had America silenced the roar of the Lyon, and 
driven him to his den, when she told the world, she claimed for 
her destiny, not only to be free, but great, wise, wealthy and re- 
nowned. She pointed to a resplendent kalo, that encircled her 
brow, as an earnest that future times would teach the nations of 
the earth, she was not to be rivaled. 

It seemed here Eden was acting with such happy imitation, 
that the observer saw, or fancied be saw, in the charming repre* 
sentation, the delights of the happy region. Here the wander- 
er, in search of earth's elysium, fancied he found the consumma- 
tion of his wishes. Here was really experienced that repose and 
those blessings, which the war, cruelties and despotism elsewhere 
had interrupted and destroyed. Here in the mildness and wis- 
dom of our government and laws, cculd be seen how far short of 
the best were the celebrated code of the Civilian,— theRepublicks 
of Greece and Rome, or the best of their boasted institutions* 



21 

Ail were captivated that, what in theory they adopted was here 

exemplified. 

This earnest of future greatness increased, and the kind 

tokens of Heaven's favour became more and more visible. 

Notwithstanding the desolations of a war, which was just end- 
cd, our rise was so rapid, we scarcely realized its progress amidst 
surprise. Before we had time to calculatte how we could reach 
the wished for eminence, the deed was done, the mighty struc- 
ture reared, and we beheld it, enraptured, as the greatest monu- 
ment of human wisdom. 

Our citizens encouraged by what they saw, embarked with 
avidity in the various employments, that promised wealth and 
respectability ; and as though a Magician was at work, exert- 
ing his most potent skill, we had scarcely time to turn round ere 
our country was experiencing transformation. The hunting 
ground of the savage soon became the residence of civilizatioi • 
The forests yielded their empire to the magnificent temple of 
religious worship, and the elegant dwelling of civilized man. 

The plough and ship united their labours, — the former to pro- 
duce an abundance, and the latter to transport the surplus there- 
of to a sure and profitable market. Then, blessed with peace 
and plenty, we had within our reach all the happiness, which 
was ever intended for man in this world. It was enough and 
we needed only to be contented. — But alas ! we were not so« 
We drank deep in the cup of bliss ; but we were such fools, as 
with our own hands to adulterate the pure and wholesome beve- 
rage with a poisonous mixture. 

It must here be remembered, that France, groaning in the 
chains and lacerated with the scourge of despotism, wrung the 
sceptre from the hand, and the diadem from the brow of tyran- 
ny ; and ascending the ruins of the Bastile, proclaimed to the 
world, that she too was free. I need only appeal to the men of 
ninety to prove the cordial exultations, which were testified by 
the American, at the birth of our young sister republick ; we fon- 
dled and caressed the darling ; pressed her to our hearts, with 



22 . 

every token of fondness ; hailed her as an auxiliary in the glori- 
ous work of reformation. When she fought, (as we then belie v. 
ed in the cause of Freedom) we wearied Heaven with our pray- 
ers, for her success and when victory perched upon her standard, 
our feelings were never equivocally or indifferently expressed » 
but, without disguise, we plainly told the belligerent states, her 
enemies, it was only in form, that we considered them on the 
footing of the most favored nations. 

For awhile this pleating infatuation reigned over our minds 
and hearts. Ere long however the delusion vanished ; the mask 
and drapery were laid aside ; and we saw the monster naked 
and deformed, haggard and odious, scouling with the ph\% of a 
hell whelped fury, and giving signs, not to be mistaken, that her 
embrace was daggers, poison and death. Before this however 
too many of our citizens had druknen so freely of the sorceries 
of the monster, that the change of her shape produced no change 
in their feelings. Her blasphemies, her awful atheism, that out 
lawed the God of Heaven, the murders, adulteries and abom- 
inations, that corrupted this vile region, were insufficient to abate 
the affections of our deluded citizens. She was beloved and eu- 
logized, as a sister Republick, who was engaged in the freedom 
of the world ; and, strange to tell, the change from an excess of 
liberty to despotism did not wean our affections. All that was 
done by France was agreeable; all her principles were ortho- 
doxy. Enchantment seemed to bewilder our people ; and no 
one has yet been found sufficiently potent to dissolve the spell. 

From this scene was derived that cruel spirit which has so long 
distracted our country and enfeebled the councils, energies and 
virtues of the nation. Hence that malignant, and incurable pro- 
pensity, to immolate upon the altar of prejudice every oppo- 
nent ; and hence undoubtedly may be traced the bloody foot- 
steps of the present foolish and unhappy war. 

I venture to assert that affection or fear must have impelled 
the declaration ; and whether the one or the other, the authors 
deserve the contempt and indignation of their countrymen. In 



23 

vain am I told, " France had no influence in the mind of the 
American cabinet." It is too evident to be doubted, that the 
design was hatched in this abominable nest. It cannot be deni- 
ed, that, not only the embargo, bui the war was in perfect coin- 
cidence with the Continental system of the Emperor Napoleon, 
and accorded with his wishes. Who ever heard of any disposi- 
tion to go to war with England, until after the the thing had been 
talked over at St. Cloud, and the measure proposed to our gov» 
ernment. 

Besides, every blow we gave England was a blow in favour 
of France. We were fighting her battles ; the effects of an alli- 
ance was produced by the war ; and, had we been able to have 
injured the enemy, as our hot-heads supposed we were, the war 
could have been no other, but to establish more securely and pow- 
erfully a dynasty.the most tyrannical andalarming.that ever curs- 
ed mankind. With these strong facts before us, it requires more 
than Christian charity to believe, that the authors of the war 
had it not in view to identify our cause with that dreadful Pow- 
er. If these things are all true, who but must discover, that 
our nation is governed by a set of principles, which, in their ten- 
dency, lead to ruin. And here we can easily discover the cause 
of our sorrows and sufferings. We have abandoned our first 
love and in the indulgence of desires unholy and meritricious, we 
have bartered away our comforts, our joys, the bright and hap a 
py prospects of ourselves and our children, for that which will 
blast and ruin our hopes. 

Restless and discontented with all the heart ought to desire, 
and hankering'for something new, we wholly disregarded the ad- 
monitions of experience, for the privilege of trying seme vision- 
ary scheme. And in despite of the warning voice from the 
tomb of the ancient Republicks, we would, — we did indulge 
our guilty curiosity. For many years we have been pursuing 
phantoms, which we have been warned to avoid ; and by so do- 
ing have lost, in practice, what promised so handsomely in the 
'heory of our government. The sober mayims of common 



24 

sense, practised by Washington, were too oldfashiond for the fl. 
lumined philosophers of the country, and the majority of the 
people, deluded from their duty and interest, and hungering for 
novelty caught the malignant disease. Our overweaning fond, 
ness for every thing wrapped in mystery, pervaded the nation ; 
and labouring under the pleasing, yet fatal, delusion, they cheer- 
fully resigned themselves into the hands of the political Empyr- 
ick?, partook of their nostrums, believed in their charms and 
spells, until out of reach of mere human scientific skill. 

Our soil was too barren, in vice, — in infidelity, to produce 
with dispatch the principles of the French revolution. There- 
fore to carry on the great work of reformation, we imported 
from time to time such, as grew into fashion. And although 
these principles could not flourish here, as in their native hot- 
bed, yet it is to be lamented, that they became so inveterately 
rooted, that nothing short of super-human power can extirpate 
them. 

These principles are the refuge of the culprit, when assailed by 
reason and religion. He spreads over his conscience the mantle 
cf D'Lembert, challenges the wisdom of revelation, and thunders 
of Omnipotence. Thus armed and arrayed, all ideas of right 
and wrong are laid aside, and the man is transformed from a 
moral and accountable agent into a citizen of the world, unfet- 
tered by laws human or divine. 

I mean not to say that every citizen of this country, who has 
been bit with the Virginia Tarantula is of this description. Thou- 
sands no doubt are honest. But the tendency of sueh principles 
is ruin, and will sooner or later heap destruction on a country, 
or individuals who possess them. The licentious prefer men of 
easly virtue to govern ; and prefering, they not only lend their 
own, but by trick and intrigue they obtain the sufFrages of oth- 
ers, until a majority, enjoying the exquisite delight of being 
cheated, yield an unconscious hand in the work of perdition . 
and the greatest cheater will, of course, be the greatest favourite 
with the dupes of his intrigue. 



25 

• 

We here clearly see the true origin of the political and moral 
evils, under which we suffer. We see who are the authors, how 
those evils have been produced ; but to see what will be the final 
result depends on conjecture alone. That hewev«r is sufficient 
to make us fear and tremble. 

But amidst all this gloom, one glorious ray of light beams 
through the darkness, and cheers the almost desponding heart. 
The seed-bed is turned up, and France will no longer suffer a 
plant to remain. 

With this reason left us to hope, let me exhort you, fellow citi- 
zens, to be active in the cause of reform. Reason and expostu- 
late with the deluded ; expose the impostor ; and unveil his 
subtle intrigue ; and in so doing, at least enjoy the pleasing con- 
ciousness, that you have been earning blessings for your coun- 
try. 

In attempting to make converts to sound principles, severe 
censure often confirms the deluded in error, rather than convin- 
ces of truth. It is the dispassionate argument, the friendly ex- 
postulation, that make their way to the mind and heart ; and 
charity forbids us to treat, as culprits, those whom we believe de- 
fective in head and not in heart. We all abhor intolerance, and 
therefore must condemn all persecution for opinion's sake. As 
federalists, we have learned by experience to feel the Serpent's 
tooth in this respect, and therefore, I trust, shall rise superior to 
the base, dastardly spirit, which proscribes any man, merely be- 
couse he dares to think for himself. 

Do we need incitements to exertion ? Behold our lacerated 
country ; witness its bleeding wounds, and then with the elo- 
quence, made pointed by the anguish of groaning freedom, as- 
sail the hearts of your infatuated countrymen. Point them to 
the evils, we suffer, and the still more dreadful evils, that brood 
over us, with an aspect so threatening, that now it would seem, 
that nothing short of a miracle can save us. We need a regen- 
erating spirit to pass over the land. Without it, our fortune can 
easily be told. We shall be prostrated in undistinguished ruin-, 

D 



26 

The present war is an awful prognostic of distructiorl. It !« 
managed or mismanaged, by the most miserable, indolent 
and un kilful collection of officers, that ever disgraced a coun- 
try ; — a parcel of empty-headed essenced fopa ; — mere " carpet 
Anights" — a dancing, hall-room, drawing-room race of gentry, 
c jured up like ghosts, from the ruthless regions of bankruptcy, 
— from the pollutions of brothels, from indolence and ignorance, 
and converted by the magic of a Secretary's wand, into Alexan- 
ders. " By their fruits ye may judge them" Those fruits are to 
difgrace and impoverish the government. We now stagger un- 
der a mighty load of debt, to pay which must draw the heart's 
blood of the land. Patriotism and good faith seem to be lost in 
self interest. In the pertinacious attachment to ridiculous theo- 
ries and visionary projects, the cabinet is distracted with schism. 

With the existence of these evils, the lover of his country will 
be arou ed to exertion ; and, while he clings to the Constitu- 
tion with one hand, he will use the other to restore it to health, 
and once more, if possible, see it administered in its purity. 

Washington i an s, 

As you profess to venerate the name, adopt the principles of 
that great and good man. Although dead, let him and his vir- 
tues live in your recollection. What though his ashes slumber 
beneath the Cyprus in the shades of Vernon, his great examples 
are before you on the page of history. They exist in the mem- 
ories of the men of his time, and constantly admonish us to be 
virtuous and patriotic ; to devote our best services to our coun- 
try, and purest devotions to our God. 

There is bo more certain truth than that " righteousness exalt- 
eth a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people." 

From the morals of men in office, as a genaral rule, may be 
known the state of a nation, whether happy or wretched. 

Free- thinkers and weak- thinkers, wrong-thinkers and no-think- 
ers may say what they please, you may as well expect to " gath- 
er grapes of thorns or figs of thistles," as to secure wise and 



27 

good laws, aad wholesome proceedings from Rulers of depraved 
principles and licentious habits. 

It exists in the eternal fitness of things, that happiness should 
grow from piety and virtue, and. nationally, from a conscientious 
exercise of power. And there cannot be a more absurd propo- 
sition, than that religion and government have no connection.— 
The saying is a sophism invented and preached by men who 
have no regard to either. The ju*t man will be just every where, 
and the honest man, honest. And what makes either justice or 
honesty, but a sense of moral obligation, a love of our Creator, a 
delight to yield him obedience ? 

My brethren, receive these friendly, though humble remarks ; 
praciise them — keep them and never part with them ; they will 
make you happy while you livei and cheer you wnen you die# 



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